Features from October 2018
The debate over the best rifle calibers for deer has been going on as long as hunters have been sitting around campfires. In Mississippi, the array of calibers is as wide as the beaches along the Gulf Coast. Narrowing the list to five is, well, challenging.
It’s fall, and that means deer hunting has finally returned in Mississippi, with archers excitedly anticipating the Oct. 1 opening of bow season in four of the state’s five deer zones.
Mississippi’s Gulf Coast offers plenty of adventures for the saltwater fisherman who’s up for a nice, October boat ride and a full cooler.
After his kayak passed over a log, left the current and slowed in a long, still run of the Strong River, Mark Golden realized the opportunity that presented and went into action.
The constant chatter about how crossbows are for cheaters still fills Stephen Chapman’s ears, several years after the grumbling first started.
As soon as the grub floated through the gap in the rocks and fell on the deep side of the jetty, Sid Montgomery felt the slightest bump and saw the faintest twitch in the line.
Hunting squirrels with dogs offers hunters an opportunity to get in the woods and to sample Mississippi small-game hunting.
Columns - October 2018
- While each of these elements is vital to a successful outcome, one of the most important is drawing the bow unnoticed.
- My October pick is one of the best fall bassing lakes in Mississippi is shallow, 882-acre Lake Bogue Homa with its several feeder creeks near Laurel. October is when the baitfish start moving out of deeper water and into shallow grass, vegetation and lily pads, with the bass following. Bass realize they need to put on weight for the cold weather that's coming.
- Chas Champagne and charter boat captain Ty Hibbs, both Louisianians, were having a ball this summer catching jack crevalle and the occasional large speckled trout off the coast of Florida.
- It was just a short hop from the Residence Inn in Bossier City, La., to Chef Tootie's home near Cross Lake in Shreveport, La. But I didn't know what to expect.
- A few years ago, I was fishing for smallmouth bass with Steve Quinn, a fisheries biologist and editor of In-Fisherman. We had caught plenty of fish throughout the sunny day. In the middle of the afternoon, we began fishing a bank that was partly shaded. I could easily see large rocks and boulders 5 feet deep in the clear water.
- October is finally here, and beyond sitting in a stand and bowhunting, you know what that means. It is once again time to plant food plots.
Outdoor Updates - October 2018
In the inshore kayak community, the Hobie Pro Angler 14 is a beast in the marsh, perfect for pursuing specks, reds, bass and more — and stable as a rock if standing up and sight-fishing is your thing.
- Mississippi wing-shooters will have plenty of opportunities to take doves in October, but the focus shifts to the southeastern corner of the state for most of the month.
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service officials announced a 13-percent decrease in ducks in the agency’s annual breeding population survey, which can be directly tied to a 14-percent decline in nesting habitat.
- One bonus of the October arrival of hunting seasons is decreased fishing pressure on inland and coastal waters of Mississippi. That it coincides with a time when many saltwater and freshwater species are entering major feeding periods creates an ideal situation for hard-core anglers.
- October is a big month for small-game enthusiasts, with the opening of the statewide squirrel season on Oct. 1 and the statewide rabbit season on Oct. 13, giving both several weeks of hunting before the opening of gun season on deer on Nov. 17.
- The 2017 archery season saw an increase in the number of bucks killed with antlers still in either full velvet or at least partially covered in the hair-like membrane of skin that carries blood and nutrients to growing antlers until they are fully calcified.
Field Notes - October 2018
Hunters can pattern whitetail bucks twice a year, and both occur outside of hunting season.
- The rifle was removed from its case long before dawn. The rich, walnut stock showed the wear of a 146-year-old gun. The U.S. Springfield 1873 Trapdoor is not what many would consider a good whitetail gun. Indeed, the 400-grain, .45-70 caliber, bullet is a bit heavy for most hunters, with small, fast projectiles all the rage.
- Hunters in Mississippi who take trophy bucks rarely turn down a trip to the taxidermist, even though a quality mount may cost hundreds of dollars. But few spend time taking quality photos of their kills. A shoulder mount over the fireplace will showcase a quality animal, but photographs from the day and place of the kill will better capture the event.
The 2018 fishing season is almost over for those of us diehard hunters. We’ll trade in the rod for a rifle or shotgun, and spend the rest of the year in the woods or a blind.